Participatory Potential of Social Participation Mechanisms in Two Municipal Councils

Abstract

It is possible to state that the concept of democracy is related to the idea that power emanates from the people and that parliaments fulfill the primary function of being the link between the will of the people and the government. In the past, this relationship used to be centered on elections, but over time it has taken on new contours in order to expand forms of social participation. In Brazil, the constituent process was marked by the participation of significant social movements and succeeded in inserting into the 1988 Constitution some mechanisms of social participation, such as plebiscites and referenda. The main questions of this study are focused on the participatory potential of participation mechanisms operating within the legislative branch. Thus, the objective of this article is to describe and analyze the functioning of social participation mechanisms in the legislative branch in the Municipal Councils of São Paulo and Salvador, and to categorize them according to their participatory potential. Data collection was carried out through document analysis and interviews with staff members, legislators, and civil society actors. The results point to the existence of different mechanisms in both councils, such as public hearings, parliamentary ombuds offices, and internet portals and social media.